Creamy Pesto Chicken

User Reviews

5.0

24 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Cook Time

    10 mins

  • Total Time

    40 mins

  • Servings

    4 servings

  • Calories

    494 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    American

Creamy Pesto Chicken

Simple and easy, this Creamy Pesto Chicken is made in one pan, and ready in about 30-40 minutes!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts trimmed of excess fat
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic minced or grated
  • 1 1/3 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
  • 1 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 3 - 4 Tbsp prepared basil pesto
  • 1/4 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese freshly grated is best

Garnishes

  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • minced fresh basil
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Instructions

Prepare

  1. Add chicken breast to a cutting board. Hold your knife parallel to the board and carefully slice the chicken from right to left (if you’re a righty)… opening the chicken breast up like a book.  Slice all the way through, so you now have 2 thinly sliced pieces of chicken. Repeat with other chicken breast.

Cook chicken

  1. Season chicken on all sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes.  Add flour to a shallow bowl or plate.
  2. Dredge chicken breasts in the flour, on both sides, then place on a plate.
  3. Heat a large skillet (I like to use cast iron or stainless steel) over MED HIGH heat.  Once hot, add olive oil, then add flour-dredged chicken to skillet, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. If your pan is less than 12 inches across, you may need to brown the chicken in batches. 
  4. Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until the chicken has a golden brown crust and is cooked through.  Remove to a plate.

Make sauce

  1. Reduce skillet heat to MED, then add butter and melt.  Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
  2. Pour in chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
  3. Pour in heavy cream and stir well to combine. Simmer for several minutes, or until thickened just a bit.
  4. Add pesto, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning, stirring well to combine. Simmer for another minute to make sure everything is warmed.

Finish

  1. Add chicken back to the pan, nestling them into the sauce and moving them around so the flour will help thicken the sauce.
  2. To serve: Spoon some of the sauce over the tops of the chicken, then sprinkle generously with black pepper, red pepper flakes, and fresh basil.

Notes

  • I've estimated this recipe serves 4, but feel free to divide it up into as many servings as you'd like.
  • If the sauce isn't thickening up to your liking, mix 2 tsp of cornstarch with 1.5 Tbsp heavy cream and stir into the sauce.  Cook and stir another minute or so and it should thicken up nicely.
  • For substitutions and FAQ's, please see the post written above this recipe.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 494kcal (25%) Carbohydrates 15g (5%) Protein 8g (16%) Fat 46g (71%) Saturated Fat 23g (115%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 14g Trans Fat 0.1g Cholesterol 106mg (35%) Sodium 589mg (25%) Potassium 196mg (6%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 1556IU (31%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 160mg (16%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 494 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 494kcal 25%
Carbohydrates 15g 5%
Protein 8g 16%
Fat 46g 71%
Saturated Fat 23g 115%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 14g 70%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 106mg 35%
Sodium 589mg 25%
Potassium 196mg 4%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 1556IU 31%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 160mg 16%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

5.0

24 reviews
Excellent

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